W. Averell Harriman

W. Averell Harriman – Life, Career, and Key Observations

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Discover the life of W. Averell Harriman (1891–1986): his business roots, diplomatic service, political roles, and enduring influence on U.S. foreign policy in the 20th century.

Introduction

William Averell Harriman (15 November 1891 – 26 July 1986) was an American businessman, politician, and diplomat whose career spanned much of the tumultuous mid-20th century. Born into wealth, he channeled his privilege into public service, playing critical roles in wartime diplomacy, postwar reconstruction, and Cold War politics. His life illustrates how a private‐sector magnate transformed into one of the principal statesmen of his era.

Though not as famously remembered as some contemporaries, Harriman’s fingerprints are all over key diplomatic decisions—particularly U.S. engagement with the Soviet Union, reconstruction of Europe, and Vietnam War negotiations. His mixture of pragmatism, personal connections, and institutional acumen made him a bridge figure between politics, diplomacy, and business.

Early Life and Family

Harriman was born in New York City on 15 November 1891. Growing up in such a milieu meant that Averell was familiar early on with the intersection of finance, transportation, and national infrastructure.

He was educated at Groton School, a prestigious boarding school, and later at Yale University, from which he graduated in 1913. His upbringing and education positioned him squarely among America’s elite, and he was expected to carry forward both business promise and public responsibility.

From Business to Public Life

Business Foundations

After Yale, Harriman entered the family’s sphere of enterprises. In 1915 he joined the Union Pacific Railroad, one of his father's principal holdings.

He was also co‐founder or partner in financial and industrial ventures, including Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., which merged the family’s banking interests. Through these positions, Harriman built not just wealth, but connections, influence, and an operational understanding of infrastructure, finance, and global commerce.

Entry into Public Service

Harriman’s public life began in earnest during the Roosevelt administration. In the 1930s and ’40s, he took on roles related to production, mobilization, and diplomatic assignments.

During World War II, he served as a special envoy for President Franklin D. Roosevelt to Europe, helping coordinate Lend-Lease and act as an intermediary with British leaders.

After the war, Harriman was U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom (briefly in 1946) and then served as U.S. Secretary of Commerce (1946–48).

Later, he transitioned into elective politics. In 1955, he became the 48th Governor of New York, serving a single term (1955–1958).

Diplomatic & Political Milestones

World War II & Soviet Relations

As Ambassador to the Soviet Union, Harriman was in the thick of U.S.–Soviet wartime cooperation and early postwar tensions.

He also endorsed U.S. support to the Soviet war effort via Lend-Lease and downplayed the risks of Soviet collapse.

Postwar Strategy & Cold War

Returning to the U.S. government, Harriman’s administrative roles included managing commerce, reconstruction, and foreign aid.

As Governor of New York, Harriman fashioned a centrist, progressive image. Though he lost his re-election bid, the office expanded his political credentials.

In later decades, he served under Kennedy and Johnson in State Department posts, including Assistant Secretary for Far Eastern Affairs and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.

Harriman, though often quiet behind the scenes, was seen as a “dove” in Vietnam policy debates, and he pushed for negotiation as the U.S. military presence deepened.

Legacy and Influence

Harriman’s significance lies less in charismatic oratory than in continuity, institutional memory, and adaptability across multiple administrations. He bridged business and diplomacy, combining private wealth with a public ethos.

He influenced U.S. foreign policy across World War II, postwar Europe, and Cold War crises. His advocacy for negotiation, understanding of Soviet perspectives, and insistence on American credibility shaped the contours of diplomacy in his era.

While he never became president, he commanded respect from presidents and diplomats alike. His memoirs and papers remain valued for their first‐hand insights into the inner workings of diplomacy.

Moreover, Harriman’s life exemplifies how wealth and status can be channeled into public service—though not without critique or controversy—for instance over power behind the scenes or influence of economic interests on policy.

Personality and Approach

Contemporaries often described Harriman as cultured, reserved, and strategic. He was not a flamboyant politician, but someone whose value lay in relationships, discretion, and institutional access.

He cultivated a reputation for integrity, loyalty, and competence. In diplomatic circles, he was known as “the crocodile,” partly because he often sat quietly before bursting into commentary.

He believed in gradualism, patience, and leveraging the tools of statecraft rather than grand gestures. He avoided extremist posturing, preferring steady influence.

Although fewer famous quotes are attributed to him in popular culture, his writings and speeches reflect a belief in diplomacy, moral dimension in policy, and responsibility of power.

Selected Statements & Observations

Though Harriman is not remembered primarily for pithy aphorisms, the following statements reflect his thinking:

• In his diplomatic writings, he often stressed that the United States must be “worthy of its own leadership.”

• Reflecting on Stalin, he called him “the most inscrutable and contradictory character I have ever known.”

• On diplomacy: “We cannot expect adversaries to take us seriously unless we take ourselves seriously.”

• He observed, in dealing with the Soviet Union, that U.S. power was enhanced by moral consistency and credible commitments, not just military strength.

Because many of his statements appear in memoirs, diplomatic cables, and transcripts rather than popular quotebooks, they tend to be more formal than epigrammatic.

Lessons from Harriman’s Life

• Institutional patience matters. Harriman’s greatest contributions were cumulative, not dramatic.

• Bridging business and governance can yield leverage: his financial grounding empowered his public roles.

• Quiet diplomacy often prevails. He showed that influence need not always be loud.

• Adaptability is essential. Harriman transitioned between war, reconstruction, Cold War, and electoral politics.

• Moral credibility counts. He understood that American foreign policy needed not just force but integrity.

Conclusion

W. Averell Harriman may not have the name recognition of Roosevelt, Kennedy, or Eisenhower, but his imprint is woven through the major diplomatic arcs of the 20th century. His fusion of business acumen, political engagement, and diplomatic skill provided continuity in a shifting world. He demonstrated that public service can be sustained over decades, and that influence is as much about persistence, wisdom, and relationships as it is about grand gestures.